Iran

By Golnaz Esfandiari The top U.S. negotiator in nuclear talks with Iran says Washington will not allow Tehran to obtain nuclear arms. Speaking at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman warned that an Iran armed with nuclear weapons could lead to an […]

Barack Obama

Iran Proposes Axis against ISIL to Iraqi PM Abadi as alternative to US Coalition

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole al-Zaman [The Times of Baghdad] reports that Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has proposed to visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Haydar al-Abadi an anti-ISIL axis including Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq that would be led by Iran, as an alternative to the US-led coalition proposed by President Barack Obama. In essence, this is the same […]

Iran

Is the new US airbase in Iraqi Kurdistan all about Iran?

contributors

By Hiwa Barznjy | Erbil | via Niqash.org NIQASH interviewed Safeen Dizayee, the spokesperson for the government of semi-autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan. During a candid and wide ranging conversation, Dizayee spoke about why the US is building a new airbase in the region, where exactly Iraqi Kurdish oil is going and whether refugees in the region […]

Iran

Netanyahu’s Nuclear Hypocrisy on Iran; In fact, Everyone in the ME needs to Disarm

contributors

By Farhad Malekafzali With negotiations to limit Iran’s enrichment in return for easing of economic sanctions on the verge of failure, hopes for a step-by-step diplomacy to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program are once again dashed. The decade old debate regarding Iran’s nuclear program has largely centered on denying Iran capacity to build nuclear weapons because […]

Iran

Is this Iranian the most powerful man in Iraq?

contributors

BBC “Gabriel Gatehouse reports for BBC Newsnight on the secretive Iranian General described as the most powerful man in Iraq.” BBC Newsnight: “Is this Iranian the most powerful man in Iraq? – Newsnight”

Bashar al-Assad

Changing US-Iran Relations: Kerry: Iran has a Role in Defeating ISIL Militants

Juan Cole

by Juan Cole Secretary of State John Kerry said on Friday that Iran has a role to play in defeating ISIL. Addressing a meeting of the United Nations Security Council, he said that the military alliance put together by the US and its allies is only one part of the task, and that the other […]

Iran

Coalition Of One: Iran Leads Own Fight Against Islamic State

contributors

By Charles Recknagel, RFE/RL The United States is putting together the first international coalition to try to roll back the Islamic State (IS) militants in Iraq and Syria. But when the nearly 40-state-strong alliance starts operations, it will find that there is already another coalition on the ground whose presence could complicate the U.S.-led effort […]

Iran

Iran begins to Emerge from three Decades of Isolation

contributors

Channel 4 News Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator Abbas Araghchi tells Channel 4 News that there is a genuine negotiating bond of respect with the United States, but the negotiations are hard. Channel 4 News: “Iran begins to emerge from three decades of isolation”

Humor

“Have you heard the one about the Ayatollah?”: Iran Hard Liners outraged at Internet Humor

contributors

By Golnaz Esfandiari via RFE/RL A friend of the Imam asks him, “Would you like to drink vodka or tequila?” Outraged at the indignity, the pious Imam slaps the man in the face. “What’s wrong with homemade aragh sagi?” he asks. This knee-slapper, which mocks Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s fierce rejection of alcohol and his promotion […]